CHOLECYSTOGRAPHY – Purpose, Preparation of the Patient, Procedure, After Care and Complications
UPDATED 2024
Cholecystography is a test for gallbladder disease, done by visualizing the gallbladder. Visualization of the gallbladder depends upon absorption of the dye from the intestinal tract, isolation and excretion by the liver cells and a free passage way from the liver to the gallbladder.
PURPOSE
- To detect gallstones
- To test the contractibility of the gallbladder
- To find out filling ability of the gallbladder
- To find out its ability to concentrate, its contents, and its condition when it is empty in normal states
PREPARATION OF THE PATIENT
- Explain the procedure to the patient to relieve tension and worries
- Stop medications which contain iodine compounds and bismuth three days prior to the test
- Check whether the patient is allergic to iodine or sea food before giving the dye
- Record the patient’s weight to calculate the dose of the dye
- The patient is given a low-fat evening meal to avoid gallbladder contraction. Thereafter, no food and water should be given to the patient until the X-ray examinations are complete
- The bowel is cleansed with saline enema
- The emergency drugs and resuscitation equipment should be kept ready to resuscitate the patient
PROCEDURE
- The patient is given a light diet at 7 pm without fat
- A laxative like dulcolax is given to clear the bowels
- At 10 pm the patient is given 6 telepaque tablets to swallow
- This dye is opaque to X-rays and is absorbed from the intestines, and is excreted by the liver
- When the gallbladder is normal, this dye gets concentrated in the gallbladder, which becomes visible by X-ray
- X-ray pictures are taken on the following day approximately 14, 18 and 19 hours after the drug has been administered, i.e. at 12 noon. 4 pm and 5 pm
- No food is given during this period
- Then, to test the contractibility of the gallbladder, the patient is fed with a fatty meal, one hour before the last X-rays taken at 12 noon and 4 pm, but it empties itself after the fatty meal taken at 4 pm and is, therefore, not visible in the X-ray taken at 5 pm
- An abnormal gallbladder may not get filled properly or may fail to empty itself
AFTER CARE
- Observe the patient for allergic reactions. Check the vital signs of the patient
- Accompany the patient throughout the procedure
- Make the patient comfortable
COMPLICATIONS
Severe reactions to dye may lead to:
- Respiratory difficulty
- Urticaria
- Shock
- Collapse
